Alan Papszycki, founding director of Spirit Animal Sanctuary, has personally saved the lives of approximately 500 dogs. To view a sampling of letters received from rescue organizations and individuals, please click on any letter below to read the complete letter.

When Al was on Long Island, based at his facility in Lindenhurst, Pro Dog Training, he was the trainer of choice for many breed rescue groups, who sent him their difficult cases  the dogs that needed rehabilitation before they were ready for adoption. He also worked with the SPCA and many other agencies. Since moving upstate, he continues to receive requests to accept dogs to prevent the needless killing.

The Tri-County Chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals commends Al for rehabilitating rescue dogs who have suffered extreme neglect, abuse and cruelty, with aberrant behavior stemming from their deprivation and emotional scars. "As our trainer, you have done an expert job rehabilitating and training these animals...[with] infinite patience and kindness...they have been successfully integrated into homes with children and other pets." (1/6/00) more...

A Neapolitan Mastiff Rescue Organization thanks Al for helping save their most difficult rescue dog to date... "We are extremely fortunate to have been able to send you our latest and most challenging rescue dog thus far....You have been a tremendous resource in helping (to) diagnose and solve difficult behavioral problems." (6/1/03) more...

In operation for more than 100 years, Bide-A-Wee is one of the oldest humane organizations in the United States, with adoption and training facilities in New York City, Wantagh and Westhampton, Long Island.

Bide-A-Wee has asked us to take in four dogs to date. All were on a pathway towards being unnecessarily killed: Waldo, Woody, Lindsey, and Ellie. The Manager of Adoption Services of the Wantagh branch wrote to thank us for providing a place where "...a dog can be a dog...Sometimes, that is all a dog really needs. I have seen how they forget how to be a dog when so many of them have had behaviors expected from them in their previous "homes." Then after those expectations were not met, they found themselves in a caged environment where a dog can never flourish. It is with you that those misunderstood dogs can flourish... Thank you, dear Al, for saving the two dogs I could not." (10/7/07) more...

A Wolf Rescue Organization praises Al's ability to work with wolves and wolfdogs, as well as dogs. "His training methods are based in his knowledge of the behavior of wolves, the closest relative of the dog... understanding canine problems, building confidence, close interaction, and above all, communication through touch, the language of wolves and dogs. Kindness and patience are his by-words..." (1/24/00) more...

A social service organization on Long Island, Community Guardianship Program, turned to Al to save a dog from being put to sleep when one of their clients could no longer care for a beloved pet... (7/30/02) more...

Al's love for animals and ability to find solutions often extends to people who have run into dead ends in dealing with unusual circumstances, in this case, a badly injured turtle... (9/23/02) more...

As Queens College attests, Al can also train giant lizards. The Center for Environmental Teaching and Research of Queens College cares for rescued and rehabilitated animals and uses them in the service of their environmental education program. When they acquired Sal, a 6-ft Asian water monitor, he was skittish and uncontrollable and a danger to the program participants. The Director of the program said "...Over the weeks that you worked with Sal, I saw an amazing difference in how Sal responded to you which gradually changed how the Center's naturalists' controlled and handled this large and potentially dangerous lizard... As a result of your working with this reptile Sal became one of our best program animals." (7/13/03) more...

New York State Assembly Member Ruben Diaz, Jr. commends Al for taking in a constituent's dog when his owner was unable to keep him at home. Mr. Maldonado was unable to afford to board his dog when his landlord refused to let him keep his beloved Yagermeister. While searching for a solution he and Yagermeister moved into Mr. Maldonado's car because he could not find an alternative that would not lead to putting the dog down. Luckily, he discovered Al. As of January 2008, Yagermeister is alive and well in his home-for-life at Spirit Animal Sanctuary... (4/12/04) more...

A Veterinarian at Bide-A-Wee thanks Al for saving Waldo, a dog whose time was running out. After visiting Waldo at his new home with Al, she found a happy dog "able to express all his doggy behavior...I know Waldo will be safe and never have to go through the horrors of being abandoned again. He has found the loving, caring, and patient owner he needs and deserves." (5/24/04) more...

Al receives many letters like this one, thanking him for his "patience and kindness...(and) easy display of affection..." Hunter was placed in many homes and consistently ran away. He was a magnificent German Sheppard, but he growled and bit if he didn't like you, and he didn't like many people. People fell in love with him because he was gorgeous, but they didn't know what they were getting into. When Al was called to work with Hunter, he immediately fell in love with Al. After some time, his owners realized the dog was too much for them to handle and asked Al to keep him at Spirit Animal Sanctuary. Now a senior citizen, he has lost much of his beauty, but he thrives in an environment where his idiosyncrasies are not considered cause for unnecessary death. (8/31/99) more...